Case Example:  Spotting at 9-weeks and Fetus

I am in my late 30’s, and currently 9 weeks pregnant with my first child.  I knew that I probably had fibroids due to symptoms that were increasingly noticeable during my periods over the last 4 - 5 years but had no idea that they would cause problems with pregnancy until now.  I've been spotting for a month and have pretty bad cramps. I had an ultrasound yesterday and found that one of the fibroids inside the uterine wall is now growing and it's exactly where the placenta is attached which is what the doctors think is causing the spotting. They haven't really given me many examples of what is possible/not possible so I'm kind of in the dark. They've basically told me that it's a wait and see situation until about 20-22 weeks at which point the fibroid will probably stop growing.  What will happen in the mean time? What are the possible side effects to the fetus?

Analysis:  It is important to remember that fibroids are so common that women have commonly conceived and carried pregnancies without any problem.  Yes, there is an increased risk of things such as miscarriage but the risks though increased do not happen in most pregnancies. 

The list of all the possible complications which may be associated with fibroids is long and potentially quite scary unless you remember that most of the time no complications occur.  My best advice to any woman carrying a pregnancy is to be optimistic.  

One thing you might do is to insist on a better relationship with your doctors so that you will get them to answer your questions to your satisfaction. -  Francis Hutchins, Jr., M.D.